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Does Dell Know What Women Want In a Laptop?

Hugh Pickens writes "Finding the right approach for gender-specific marketing can be really tricky, said Andrea Learned, a marketing expert and author of Don't Think Pink — What Really Makes Women Buy. So when Dell recently took the wraps off a new Web site called Della, geared toward women, featuring tech 'tips' that recommended calorie counting, finding recipes, and watching cooking videos as ways for women to get the most from a laptop, a backlash erupted online, as both women and men described the Web site as 'ridiculous' and 'gimmicky.' Della's heavy emphasis on colors, computer accessories, dieting tips, and even the inclusion of a video about vintage shopping 'seems condescending to women consumers,' says Learned. Instead, Dell should have emphasized function and figured out ways to sell the netbooks that weren't clichéd and reliant on gender stereotypes. 'Some brands go too far with the girlie stuff,' Learned says. 'Della's marketing strategy sounds like it's advertising a purse. There's a level of consumer sophistication they're missing.'"

34 of 669 comments (clear)

  1. Della is kind of a "fat" name by BadAnalogyGuy · · Score: 3, Funny

    Maybe it's because it's one letter away from Delta, but Della just sounds like a "fat" person name. Like "Gertrude" sounds like an old person name. And "Candy" is a stripper name.

    Maybe it wasn't the targeting of women that was gimmicky. Maybe it was the use of an unattractive person name.

    1. Re:Della is kind of a "fat" name by drinkypoo · · Score: 2, Funny

      Maybe it wasn't the targeting of women that was gimmicky. Maybe it was the use of an unattractive person name.

      Obviously, it's the name of Michael Dell on the town in fishnets on a Saturday night.

      --
      "You're right," Fisheye says. "I should have set it on 'whip' or 'chop.'"
  2. I bet they removed the clock app, too by GodfatherofSoul · · Score: 5, Funny

    Because there's already a clock on the stove.

    --
    I swear to God...I swear to God! That is NOT how you treat your human!
    1. Re:I bet they removed the clock app, too by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Funny

      Except that one shows <blink>12:00</blink>.

  3. Re:Stereotypes usually have some kernal of truth by elrous0 · · Score: 4, Funny

    Actually, I suspect that 2 of them are no longer my girlfriends because I stopped answering the phone when they called.

    --
    SJW: Someone who has run out of real oppression, and has to fake it.
  4. Sales still great! by RemoWilliams84 · · Score: 4, Funny

    FTA

    "Despite the backlash from women about the sexist advertising schemes, sales of the Delldo (Dell's new dildo mount for laptops and pc's) was spectacular."

    --
    "I don't have to think. I only have to do it. The results are always perfect, but that's old news." - Meat Puppets
  5. Stereotypes are true for everybody else except me by EraserMouseMan · · Score: 3, Funny

    If I had a dime for every time I've heard a woman say, "I'm not like other women." Every woman thinks all other women are pretty much the same and that they themselves are different and unique.

    I used universals to incite a flame war. Hey it's Friday!

  6. Re:Stereotypes usually have some kernal of truth by rackserverdeals · · Score: 4, Funny

    Actually, I suspect that 2 of them are no longer my girlfriends because I stopped answering the phone when they called.

    Oh, so you defend your use of a stereo type by promoting another stereotype that women like to talk on the phone way too much? :)

    --
    Dual Opteron < $600
  7. Re:Stereotypes usually have some kernal of truth by piripiri · · Score: 2, Funny

    OMG PINK LAPTOPS !

  8. Obvious by Junior+J.+Junior+III · · Score: 4, Funny

    A woman's laptop should use one of those IBM Thinkpad TrackPoint things for the pointer device.

    --
    You see? You see? Your stupid minds! Stupid! Stupid!
  9. Re:Stereotypes usually have some kernal of truth by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 4, Funny

    I think your missing the point here
    a /. poster, with 5 girlfriends?

  10. Re:Dell's Mistake by sakdoctor · · Score: 2, Funny

    Women are like Linux distros.

    They are all essentially the same, but some have different package management.

  11. Re:Stereotypes usually have some kernal of truth by smooth+wombat · · Score: 3, Funny

    or that she looks fat in those jeans.

    It's not the jeans that make you look fat, it's the fat that makes you look fat. (my apologies to whichever comedian I heard tell this joke)

    --
    We will bankrupt ourselves in the vain search for absolute security. -- Dwight D. Eisenhower
  12. A Laptop Named Desire by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

    "Della.... DELLA!"

  13. Re:Stereotypes usually have some kernal of truth by discord5 · · Score: 4, Funny

    It's like telling that girlfriend she should go on a diet, or that she looks fat in those jeans.

    Here's a tip that might save you of an evening of sleeping on the couch:

    The correct answer to "Do these pants make me look big?" is NOT "There's nothing wrong with those pants."

    Talk about having picture but no sound for an entire day.

  14. Re:Stereotypes usually have some kernal of truth by Tony+Hoyle · · Score: 4, Funny

    I'd feel a bit uncomfortable wearing *any* shirt for a month. EEeew.

  15. Re:Stereotypes are true for everybody else except by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0, Funny

    If I had a dime for every time I've heard a nerd say, "I'm not like other nerds". Every nerd thinks all other nerds are pretty much the same and that they themselves are different and unique. There fixed that for you

  16. Re:Stereotypes usually have some kernal of truth by Hogwash+McFly · · Score: 5, Funny

    a /. poster, with 5 girlfriends?

    Yep. They're called Thumb, Index, Middle, Ring and Pinky.

    --
    Mother, do you think they'll like this sig?
  17. They should hire Mel Gibson by need4mospd · · Score: 2, Funny

    He knows what women want because he can read their minds.

  18. Re:Fabulous first post! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Funny

    This would be my ideal laptop but only if it had a larger screen/keyboard. A 15.4" version would be lovely.

  19. Re:Stereotypes usually have some kernal of truth by Cro+Magnon · · Score: 4, Funny

    I'm not even married, but I know that when my GF asks if she looks fat in those jeans, the correct answer is "Of course not, dear". The jeans have nothing to do with it. (I'm sure glad she doesn't read /.)

    --
    Slow down, cowboy! It has been 4 hours since you last posted. You must wait another few hours.
  20. Since when are women allowed by davebarnes · · Score: 4, Funny

    to buy laptops without supervision by a male?

    --
    Dave Barnes 9 breweries within walking distance of my house
  21. Re:Stereotypes usually have some kernal of truth by c6gunner · · Score: 5, Funny

    So what's the correct answer? How about:

    "Yes, but it's ok because it takes attention away from your hair."

  22. Changing color laptop by Gothmolly · · Score: 3, Funny

    Can they make a Dell laptop where its baby pink for 3 weeks, then blood red for the fourth? I think that would sell well with the ladies.

    --
    I want to delete my account but Slashdot doesn't allow it.
  23. Re:Stereotypes usually have some kernal of truth by og_sh0x · · Score: 4, Funny

    You might think that you should just dump Thumb, the fat stumpy one. Don't do it! She's the only one who'll go around the back!

  24. Re:Stereotypes usually have some kernal of truth by houghi · · Score: 4, Funny
    --
    Don't fight for your country, if your country does not fight for you.
  25. Oblig. xkcd ref by L4t3r4lu5 · · Score: 3, Funny
    --
    Finally had enough. Come see us over at https://soylentnews.org/
  26. Re:Stereotypes usually have some kernal of truth by cayenne8 · · Score: 4, Funny
    "Oh, so you defend your use of a stereo type by promoting another stereotype that women like to talk on the phone way too much? :)"

    Actually that one is true. Geez...I can get on a phone, say what I need and be off within minutes 99% of the time.

    The girls? They drone on, and on, and on...and on...usually repeating themselves multiple times. And this is when they are happy and in a good mood. God help you if they are wanting to talk about a problem them have. And yes, I did finally figure out, they just want to talk about it, they aren't looking for answers like guy does when he talks to a friend about problems...

    So, I just set the phone down and watch tv...picking it up occasionally to say "uh-huh" and throw in an occasional "I understand". That last one goes a LONG way on brownie points, and keeps you from having to listen or care....

    --
    Light travels faster than sound. This is why some people appear bright until you hear them speak.........
  27. Re:Stereotypes usually have some kernal of truth by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 3, Funny

    I thought he accurately described his girlfriends in this sentence:

    "effectively describes 4 out my 5 last girlfriends, my mother, all my aunts"

  28. Re:Stereotypes usually have some kernal of truth by LotsOfPhil · · Score: 2, Funny

    So, I just set the phone down and watch tv...picking it up occasionally to say "uh-huh" and throw in an occasional "I understand". That last one goes a LONG way on brownie points, and keeps you from having to listen or care....

    Don't forget "I told you that bitch crazy."

    --
    This post climbed Mt. Washington.
  29. Re:Stereotypes usually have some kernal of truth by Linker3000 · · Score: 5, Funny

    Slashdot geeks: putting the semen in basement since 1997.

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    AT&ROFLMAO
  30. Re:Abby by drinkypoo · · Score: 2, Funny

    Smart, sexy, powerful, and a geek; what is not to love!

    You forgot "fictional". Thus, no chance of rejection. Perfection! Or something.

    --
    "You're right," Fisheye says. "I should have set it on 'whip' or 'chop.'"
  31. Re:Stereotypes usually have some kernal of truth by steelfood · · Score: 1, Funny

    Or why do you think men have to get the biggest, loudest and latest TV sets with hifi sounds

    Dick size compensation.

    Seriously.

    A lot of what men do can be explained with one or both of two explanations: compensation and/or pissing contest.

    Don't feel too bad though; it's leftovers from our tribal days and there's no much you can do about it.

    Otherwise, there's no reason for men to be more tech savvy than women. It's just that men like to compete to be the best, and so keep themselves up to date or even drive the technology forward, while women are more than satisfied to watch them do so from the sidelines and point and laugh when appropriate.

    --
    "If a nation expects to be ignorant and free in a state of civilization, it expects what never was and never will be."
  32. Re:News flash... by imakemusic · · Score: 2, Funny

    I happen to be in a field

    You're a farmer?

    --
    Brain surgery - it's not rocket science!